Table 2. Levels of free n-3 fatty acids (nmol/g) in various brain regions of control subjects and subjects with Alzheimer's disease.

n-3 Fatty acid	Control subjects	Subjects with Alzheimer's disease	Adjusted Difference	P-value*
	Mean ± SD ; N	Mean ± SD ; N	(95% CI)
α-Linolenic (C18:3)
Temporal cortex	1.75±0.36 ; 17	1.95±0.76 ; 36	0.17 ( −0.22, 0.57 )	0.387
Frontal cortex	2.07±0.42 ; 17	2.46±0.79 ; 37	0.39 ( 0.01, 0.78 )	0.045
Cerebellum	1.65±0.54 ; 16	1.91±0.59 ; 35	0.27 ( −0.08, 0.62 )	0.130
Pooled	1.82±0.47 ; 17	2.12±0.76 ; 37	0.29 ( 0.06, 0.52 )	0.019
Eicosapentaenoic (C20:5)
Temporal cortex	2.13±1.18 ; 17	1.95±1.34 ; 36	−0.21 ( −0.99, 0.58 )	0.596
Frontal cortex	2.18±1.09 ; 17	2.27±1.57 ; 37	0.08 ( −0.8, 0.97 )	0.848
Cerebellum	1.64±1.11 ; 16	1.46±0.48 ; 35	−0.17 ( −0.62, 0.27 )	0.437
Pooled	1.99±1.13 ; 17	1.9±1.26 ; 37	−0.06 ( −0.59, 0.47 )	0.829
Docosapentaenoic (C22:5)
Temporal cortex	3.98±2.52 ; 17	3.72±3.23 ; 36	−0.24 ( −2.09, 1.61 )	0.718
Frontal cortex	7.45±1.69 ; 17	7.25±2.41 ; 37	−0.15 ( −1.45, 1.16 )	0.821
Cerebellum	9.45±4.59 ; 16	9.67±2.78 ; 35	0.20 ( −1.87, 2.26 )	0.850
Pooled	7.01±3.81 ; 17	6.84±3.72 ; 37	−0.17 ( −1.28, 0.94 )	0.919

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval.

*P-values for differences between means were computed by linear regression analysis for each fatty acid in selected brain regions and Generalized Estimating Equations for the pooled analysis in the entire brain after adjustment for age, gender, and post mortem interval.